From His Heart

[Judy Harder]

December 24, 2010   

CAN'T NEVER COULD DO ANYTHING

"For by You I can run upon a troop; and by my God I can leap over a wall." Psalm 18:29

Has there ever been a greater movie character than Rocky Balboa, the Italian Stallion? The answer is NO! Rocky is beloved because he had limited ability but miles and miles of heart. He did what others said couldn't be done.

In Rocky II, Rocky is preparing for his big rematch with Apollo Creed, the heavy weight champion of the world. As he and his trainer, Mickey, watch film from the first fight, Mickey lets him in on a little secret: In order to win, Rocky was going to have to fight Creed as a right handed fighter.

Rocky responded by saying, "Com' on, Mick. I can't do that!" I love Mickey's reply, "What's can't!? There ain't no can'ts!"

IS YOUR ATTITUDE CAN OR CAN'T?

In the Christian life, there ain't no can'ts because nothing is too difficult for God. Yet, so many of us have "can't do" attitudes. We look at the mountains of opposition in our lives and silently say to ourselves, "No way. This can't be moved. This can't be done. I can't succeed." And you know what? When we think like that, we experience defeat. Mountain moving miracles don't take place in "can't do" people.

Peter walked on the water just fine until the fierceness of the wind and waves caused him to take his eyes off Jesus. As he began to whisper to himself, "This can't be done," he started to sink. Everyone knows that "can't do" people can't walk on water. But "can do" people can!

ACCORDING TO YOUR FAITH

Jesus said, "Be it done to you according to your faith" (Matthew 9:29). He said, "If you had faith like a mustard seed, you would say to this mulberry tree, 'Be uprooted and be planted in the sea'; and it would obey you" (Luke 17:6).

What exactly is faith? Tony Evans said, "Faith is acting like God is telling the truth." I love that definition. God IS telling the truth. You and I CAN see the mountains and trees of opposition leveled before us as we believe God and step out in faith.

You see, faith is not rooted in you. It is rooted in the promises of God and in His power to fulfill His promises. Faith is NOT whipping yourself into a frenzy and mindlessly chanting, "I think I can, I think I can, I think I can." Faith is looking above your circumstances to the promises of God and saying, "I know He can, I know He can, I know He can!"

WHAT IS YOUR "CAN'T DO" SITUATION?

Are you facing a big "can't do" in your life today? Maybe it is financial. Maybe it is physical. Maybe it is in your marriage and family. Maybe it is with a sin you "can't" seem to conquer.

Remember, "There ain't no can'ts!" Bring that situation to the Lord, AND keep bringing it to Him! Find a promise in the Word of God that speaks to your situation and cling to it.

Every single day, make the choice to walk by faith and not by sight (2 Corinthians 5:7). As you do, you will see Him do miracles in response. How do I know? The Bible tells me so!

Love,

[Judy Harder]

December 31, 2010   

Dear Friend,

With the end of the year almost here, I want to let you know where we stand in closing our $250,000 funding gap by December 31.

But before I get to that, I want you to know how much I love and appreciate you.

You are such a blessing to this ministry, and there is no way From His Heart could bring the good news to so many millions of hurting people were it not for friends like you!

Your support has helped us reach people like Jamie, who wrote recently...

"God is using you to speak directly to me during this terrible time in my life. I tune in eagerly every week to be fed. Please keep faithful to God and His Word. You are making such a difference."

Jamie is a great example of why From His Heart exists. And it's your support that God is using to help us reach her. So from my heart, thank you!

Now, about the $250,000 funding gap...

I must say, the response this month has been amazing. We've been blessed that so many have been willing to help at this important time. But we still have a ways to go in order to fully close the gap.

That's why... if you haven't had a chance to give... would you provide whatever online gift you can to help us meet this goal by Friday, December 31?

Thank you, my friend. I pray that this year will be filled with the joy and peace of our Savior for you and your loved ones.

[Judy Harder]

January 7, 2011   

A FRESH START TO A NEW YEAR

The Lord's lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail.  They are new every morning; Great is Thy faithfulness.  "The Lord is my portion," says my soul, "Therefore I have hope in Him."  Lamentations 3:22-24

Have I ever told you how bad of a golfer I am?  Well, it is true.  I am inconsistent off the tee box, can't chip to save my life, and putt like Herman Munster.  That mixture of problems typically results in bad scores.  Sometimes I just give myself an "F" for "fun" on the scorecard.

Recently, I was playing golf with a friend.  It was a typical day for me on the course, a few good shots and lots more bad shots.  After we made the turn for the final nine holes, however, something happened.  I started to play better!  It was like a scene from Invasion of the Body Snatchers.  I am sure my friend was wondering, "Who are you and what have you done with Jeff Schreve!"  I was on fire!

We got to the last hole.  If I shot par on that hole, I would have finished the back nine with a 40, my best score ever for nine holes.  Unfortunately, as I stepped to the tee box, the body snatcher left me.  The old Jeff Schreve was back, and it wasn't pretty.  I hit tree after tree on my way to a quadruple boogie.  UGH!

You know what I needed on Hole 18?  A do over!  I needed my friend to say, "Jeff, that was a bad hole for you.  Let's not count it.  Let's play it again!  You need a fresh start to this hole."

GOD'S FRESH START FOR YOU

New Year's is God's way of saying to you, "Here is a fresh start!  My love is new for you to embrace.  My compassion is fresh for you to experience, and My faithfulness is great and will never fail you."  How cool is that!?

Do you need a fresh start?  Was 2010 a tough year?  Did things happen that really messed you up?  Did you make some bad decisions that really cost you?  Did you get a quadruple boogie on the last hole, so to speak?

Don't despair!  Don't throw in the towel and quit!  God still loves you, and He still has a wonderful plan for you!  You can have a "do over" with the Lord.         

Listen, my friend, the past is history.  You cannot change it, but you can surely learn from it and move forward.  Accept the Lord's love, compassion and faithfulness.  Those things from God are not just for other people, THEY ARE FOR YOU TOO!

2011 is going to be a great year IF, IF, IF you will live life with your eyes on Jesus, walking by faith and not by your feelings.  What God says IS TRUE!  Take Him at His Word!  Tee up again, and replay Hole 18.  He wants you to.  And this time, the results are going to be so much better!

Happy New Year!

Love,

[Judy Harder]

January 14, 2011   

A New You for the New Year

Brethren, I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. 
Philippians 3:13-14

When I was a kid, one of my favorite TV shows was The Six Million Dollar Man.  Do you remember that show?  It was about an astronaut who nearly died in a terrible accident.  The government stepped in and replaced his crushed body with bionic parts.  The show's opening said, "We can rebuild him. We have the technology. We can make him better than he was.  Better ... stronger ... faster."

A NEW YOU! 

Wouldn't it be cool if you could be better than you were in 2010?  If you could be a better Christian ... a better husband or wife ... a better mom or dad or child ... a better boss or employee?  If you could be more loving, more joyful, more at peace, more considerate, more disciplined, and more effective at making a difference? 

Is it really possible to experience a new you in 2011?  YES!  That is exactly what God wants for you this New Year.  God is in the life-transformation business.  He has a plan and program to change your life and make you more like Him in the way you act and react. 

WHAT'S THE PLAN? 

Although Paul was arguably the strongest Christian who ever lived, he had a great desire in his heart to be "better, stronger, and faster."  He wanted to grow in His relationship with Christ.  He wanted to be changed "from glory to glory."  In Philippians 3, Paul shared an important action plan that made a difference for him and will for you also.  The action plan has two key steps. 

1. Forget what lies behind. 

A. Have you been hurt in the past?  Have people said bad things about you and done bad things to you?  Join the club.  We all have had bad things happen to us in the past.  The difference between winners and losers is this: winners let the pain from the past go.  They forget it.  Losers hold on to it.  God says, LET IT GO.  Give those hurts to me so you can move on down the road.                 

B. Have you blown it in the past?  Do you have major sins and failures in your past history that keep you feeling like a second class citizen in the Kingdom of God?  I don't care if you are guilty of mass murder; your sins, no matter how heinous, are no match for the blood of Jesus Christ!  Confess all those sins to God.  Get them out from the shadows of your heart and under the cleansing power of the blood of His cross.  And once you confess that sin to God and turn from that sin, accept His complete and total forgiveness.  "What God has cleansed, no longer consider unholy" (Acts 10:15).
 
2. Reach forward to what lies ahead.

God does not want us to live looking in the rear view mirror.  He wants us to press on in Jesus' name.  He wants us to put our eyes on Jesus and seek Him with all our hearts.  He wants us to keep going, even when the way is hard.

Have you been tempted to throw in the towel? Have you gotten knocked down and have yet to get up?  The time is now to dust off the difficulties of the past and get back in the race.  Press on toward the goal, toward the prize of pleasing the Lord and hearing Him say one day as you cross the finish line, "Well done, my good and faithful servant."

It's a new year. God wants there to be a new you. It is within reach.  It is His will and desire for you. Will you let go of the past?  Will you get up from your fall?  Will you go for the prize with all your heart?

Love,

[Judy Harder]

 January 21, 2011 

KEEPING PROPER PERSPECTIVE

For momentary, light affliction is producing for us an eternal weight of glory far beyond all comparison. 
2 Corinthians 4:17


Years ago, when my oldest daughter, Jill, was in middle school, we had a little problem one morning right before I drove her to school.  Jill had gotten mad about something during breakfast, and she was still mad as she made her way to the car which was parked in the garage.

In those days, our garage was fairly small.  Debbie and I could fit both cars in, but just barely. There was not enough room to get into the car from the passenger side.  I would always tell the kids to wait until I backed the car out before getting into it.  Well, because Jill was mad, she blew off the rule and did not wait for me to back out.  As she tried to enter the passenger door, the lack of space caused her backpack to hit my weed-eater which was innocently hanging on a nail in the garage.  The weed-eater dislodged from the nail and came crashing to the garage floor.  Parts went flying, and I flew off the handle.

I angrily scolded Jill for breaking the weed-eater. Without even bothering to check the exact extent of the damage, I took the weed-eater out to the trash. I probably said something like, "There!  Are you happy now, Jill?  Because of your little temper tantrum, the weed-eater is trashed." (I hate to admit it, but I can be such an immature jerk at times.  God have mercy.)

Jill felt bad that she broke the weed-eater. She went to school feeling bad. Then I felt bad for losing my temper and overreacting.  As I thought about having to needlessly spend money on another weed-eater, I went to the trash to salvage the old one.  To my chagrin, someone had already come by and taken it!  UGH!  I had thrown away a functioning weed-eater because some plastic parts had broken. What a BIG dope! What a classic example of overreacting and losing perspective.

ARE YOU OVERREACTING TO YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES?

Could it be that you have a tendency to get mad and overact to adverse situations?  Could it be that you look at the brokenness of things in your life and quickly throw away that which could easily have been repaired?

Perhaps you overreacted to a marriage problem and threw it away without even ONE counseling session.  Perhaps you got mad at your boss and quit your job on the spot.  Perhaps you were hurt by a friend's comments and trashed the relationship in an act of retaliation.  Perhaps you got mad at someone at church and quit going in order to keep your distance.

When you step back and really look objectively at the situation, could it be that you made a bad situation 100 times worse by reacting out of hurt, anger and vindictiveness?  If you had kept perspective, would that weed-eater item in your life really be in the trash pile - and then absconded by an opportunistic landscaping crew?  Or would you have been able to fix that issue with relative ease and moved on down the road?

AFFLICTION

When you face affliction and fiery trials of life, it is critical to keep a proper perspective.  It is critical to take the long look past the immediate pain and discomfort.  The Apostle Paul had more than his share of hurts and trials, but he never lost God's perspective through the suffering.  He always compared the hurts of today with the glories of eternity.  When he compared the two, he said, "The sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that is to be revealed to us" (Romans 8:18).  Paul said that the sufferings and beatings and major league difficulties he faced were really nothing more than "momentary, light affliction" when viewed through the lens of eternity  Now that is perspective!

I don't know what you are facing today, but God does.  He knows, and He cares.  He wants you to get proper perspective.  The difficulties are real and painful, but they are nothing compared to an eternal reward.  So be a good soldier.  Fight the good fight. Never give up, and never give in.  Keep praising, keep serving, and keep obeying God all the way to the finish line.

The Lord's great reward awaits those who are faithful until death.  Will that faithful one be you? 

Love,

[Judy Harder]

January 28, 2011   

UNDER OR OVER?

Even though the fig trees have no blossoms, and there are no grapes on the vines; even though the olive crop fails, and the fields lie empty and barren; even though the flocks die in the fields, and the cattle barns are empty, yet I will rejoice in the LORD! I will be joyful in the God of my salvation! The Sovereign LORD is my strength! He makes me as surefooted as a deer, able to tread upon the heights.  Habakkuk 3:17-19 NLT

Have you ever heard someone respond to the "how you doing?" question this way: "Well, under the circumstances, I guess alright." Have you ever stopped to think how often we seem to find ourselves under the circumstances? 

What if you could get yourself OVER the circumstances? What if you could rise above, regardless of the circumstances? What if you could experience peace, joy, and confident assurance of good things coming your way even though present circumstances are less than desirable? Is that possible? YES! 

The Prophet Habakkuk detailed the worst of situations for the people of his day: total agricultural devastation and subsequent starvation. In the midst of the most horrific circumstances imaginable, God led Habakkuk to share the secret to rising above. 

1. PRAISE HIM REGARDLESS. Habakkuk made the choice to rejoice and exult in the Lord! You can make that same choice. Even though everything may be falling apart for you, do not cease to praise the Lord and rejoice in Him. God is the Sovereign LORD. He is over every situation and every adverse circumstance. He is worthy of your praise and rejoicing regardless of the situation.

A few years ago, I tore my patella tendon playing in a church basketball game. I jumped up, and my tendon snapped like a worn rubber band. The pain was excruciating. As I lay on the court in a heap, knowing that surgery was inevitable (I had torn my patella before and knew that I had done it again), I remembered to praise God and rejoice in Him. It changed my whole attitude as I dealt with this injury. There really is power in praise and rejoicing!

2. TRUST HIM COMPLETELY. Habakkuk let God be his salvation, his deliverer. And he let God be his strength. As he trusted God in the midst of disaster, God brought him to new heights. God let him tread on the high places. God took him from UNDER the circumstances to OVER it all. 

Do you remember the story of Mary and Martha? Martha was the one who was working so hard to prepare a meal for the Master. She was stressed out under the weight of all her responsibilities. Mary, on the other hand, was stress-free as she sat at the feet of Jesus and listened to His word. I think it is safe to say that Martha was worried and bothered UNDER the circumstances. Mary was in perfect peace OVER the circumstances.

What is the secret to rising above? If you will put yourself UNDER Jesus, He will put you OVER your circumstances. He will bring you to new heights with Him and give you peace and joy the world cannot begin to understand.

The choice is yours. Will you live under the circumstances or under the Lord?

Love,

[Judy Harder]

February 4, 2011   

My Bodyguard

But the Lord is with me like a dread champion.  Jeremiah 20:11 

I have never been much of an animal person.  Debbie loves animals, and I love Debbie.  So we compromised.  Currently, we have three dogs and a cat.  They all live inside.  I wonder how many we would have if we hadn't compromised!

With our most recent pet arrival, a three-pound Chihuahua named Lil Pup, my heart toward pets has really changed.  I am crazy about Lil Pup.  She is so cute and so fun and so incredibly little.  I just look at her and marvel at God's creative handiwork.   

Although Lil Pup thinks she is a Doberman, the truth is she is weak, frail, and in need of protection when other dogs are around (or other cats and even some good-sized kittens).  On more than one occasion, I have had to come to the rescue of Lil Pup as the other pets were starting to get ticked-off with her puppy antics.  As much as I am able, I will look out for Lil Pup.  My heart for that little dog compels me to protect her.

GOD'S HEART FOR YOU

Sometimes we forget how much God loves us.  Sometimes we fail to see the great heart He has for our protection and defense.  Isaiah said, "For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress, a refuge from the storm, a shade from the heat" (Isaiah 25:4).  God protected His "Lil Pup" named Jeremiah.  He was his "dread champion."  And no one messes with the dread champion! 

Are you hurting today?  Are your enemies closing in on you?  Does life seem to have you in its jaws, thrashing you about?  Do you feel as if God has forgotten your name, your address, your situation?  Does it seem like curtains?  Cry out to God!  Cast all your worries and cares upon Him "BECAUSE HE CARES FOR YOU" (1 Peter 5:7). 

Listen, my friend, you are Lil Pup times a zillion to God.  You could not be more precious to Him!  He will be there in your hour of need.  He will defend you in your time of danger and distress.  Draw near to God and know that He will draw near to you in response (James 4:.  Call to Him and know that He will answer you (Jeremiah 33:3). 

PRAYER

Dear God, thank You for being a God who truly loves me, who truly cares.  Thank You that You do know all that is going on in my life, and You have my back.  Forgive me, Lord, for all the times I have believed the lie that you have given up on me or have forgotten me.  Help me be aware of Your presence in my life.  I trust You and Your protection.  My life is in Your hands, and I know that You will see me through the worst of situations.  Thank You for the unfathomable privilege of being Your Lil Pup.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.

Love,

[Judy Harder]

 February 11, 2011   

Pressing On or Coasting In?

Not that I have already obtained it, or have already become perfect, but I press on in order that I may lay hold of that for which also I was laid hold of by Christ Jesus.  Philippians 3:12

Last Sunday, the Green Bay Packers beat the Pittsburgh Steelers in Super Bowl XLV in Dallas. As I think about famous moments in Super Bowls, I am reminded of Super Bowl XXVII, January 31, 1993 in Pasadena, CA. Troy Aikman and the Dallas Cowboys were facing Jim Kelly and the Buffalo Bills.

The game was a blowout with Dallas winning 52-17. The only thing that really stands out about that game was a play in the fourth quarter involving Cowboys defensive tackle, Leon Lett, and Bills wide receiver, Don Beebe.

Lett, the 6' 6", 300 pound behemoth, scooped up a fumble late in the fourth quarter.  He had a wide open 55 yards to the end zone. Lett had a chance to score a touchdown in the Super Bowl, something every lineman dreams of, but very few ever get the opportunity to do. Lett sprinted his way toward the end zone. Everyone thought it was a sure score, especially Leon. At the 10 yard line, he began to slow down, celebrate the moment and coast into the end zone. That proved to be the formula for disaster.

The Bills Don Beebe had a "never say die" attitude. When he saw Lett pick up the fumble, he got on his pony and raced after him, hoping against hope that he could somehow prevent a sure touchdown. Because he pressed on and Lett began to coast, Beebe was able to strip the outstretched ball from the showboating lineman right before he crossed the goal line. The result was Leon Lett lost his sure touchdown, and Don Beebe made the play of the game.

PRESSING ON OR COASTING IN?

In your Christian life, are you more like Don Beebe or Leon Lett? Are you coasting into heaven or are you pressing on? Are you still giving it your all, or are you just going half-speed? Years ago I heard this straightforward statement: You are either growing or dying. Which one is it for you?

The Apostle Paul had accomplished so much in his life for Christ and a big reason why was that he never let up. He kept pressing on with Jesus. He kept learning and growing and praying and seeking the Lord until he took his final breath.

RUTH GRAHAM

A few years ago, a friend of mine shared this true story about Ruth Graham, Billy Graham's wife. Toward the end of her life, she was mostly confined to her bed due to arthritis and other ailments. In her weakened condition, it would have been very easy to coast her way into heaven. But she did not do that. Until the very end, she took time to read and memorize Scripture. When she was asked why she was still trying to memorize, she said something to the effect, "There will come a time when I can no longer see. So I want to be able to quote God's Word and have it in my heart." May God help us to have that kind of passion and drive to press on, all the way to glory.     

HONEST EVALUATION

Let me ask you again, are you living life more like Don Bebee or Leon Lett? Regardless of your age or station in life, God has things for you to do until He calls you home. Perhaps He has left you here for the sole purpose of being a prayer warrior and an encouragement to others as you live in failing health as Ruth Graham did. 

Would you make a fresh commitment that regardless of the circumstances you are facing that you won't quit and won't coast and won't mail it in, but you will go all out until God calls you home? Although imprisoned, in chains and facing possible execution, Paul still says, "I press on." Will you say the same?

Love,

[Judy Harder]

February 18, 2011   

Why Is This Not Working?

If you know these things,
you are blessed if you do them.  John 13:17

Like many people, I had a goal to hit the month of January with a diet and exercise plan. I was going to cut carbs, get on my newly purchased elliptical machine four times a week, and lift weights three days a week. I was going to be a specimen by the end of the first quarter. Hmmm. As I write this on February 11, my elliptical machine is gathering dust, and I am heavier than ever.

Now we all know "why" my diet and exercise plan is not working. It is not working because I am not doing it! The Bible says, "A good understanding have all those who DO His commandments" (Psalm 111:10). Jesus told us that the blessing is not in the knowing but in the doing.

AT HOME

In the Christian life, the rubber meets the road at home. Without question, marriage and family are critical to our lives. It matters little how high you climb on the ladder of success in the business world. If your marriage and family is a disaster, everything else really rings hollow.

And why do so many who claim to follow Christ have such dissatisfying home-life situations? It is because the elliptical machine is gathering dust, so to speak. People often know what to do, they just don't do it. They want to have a great marriage and family without doing the things necessary to have a great marriage and family. They want to have a deep walk with God without doing the things necessary to have a deep walk with God - things like time in His Word, time on your knees and time with a small group who can hold you accountable and help you grow.

Debbie and I are privileged to get to share at Family Life Weekend Marriage Getaways around the country. Next weekend we will be in Roanoke, Virginia, sharing proven, biblical principles for experiencing a wonderful marriage and family. But you know what? Even though we teach on this stuff and know what the Bible says about it, we don't experience oneness in our marriage UNLESS we DO what we know. The blessing is not in the knowing, it is in the doing.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

There are some people I know who study the Bible and can give you chapter and verse on this doctrine and that doctrine, but those same people are mean, cruel, selfish, jealous, and bitter. They are just like the Pharisees of old who studied God's Word, taught God's Word and never really obeyed God's Word. They merely gave lip service to the commands of God.

Are you doing the same? 

As you look over your life, are you doing what God says to do?

1. Are you seeking first the Kingdom of God, or do you have God on the back burner?
2. Are you forgiving people who hurt you, or are you holding on to grudges and bitterness?
3. Are you loving your wife, even if she is not very loveable right now, or are you ignoring her and doing your own thing?
4. Are you respecting your husband, even if he is not very respectable right now, or are you constantly chipping away at him with disrespectful barbs and snide comments?
5. Are you disciplining your children and training them up in the fear of the Lord, or are you too tired to really enforce any loving, healthy boundaries?

My friend, the time is NOW to start doing what God says to do. Does Christianity work? YES! But it does not work unless you do it. Start doing His will by obeying His Word. You will be amazed how the blessings will start to flow as a result. Remember, "If you know these things, you are blessed if you do them" (John 13:17). Will you start today?

Now for me, I'm off to the gym to start doing my exercise program. Debbie is looking forward to a whole new me, one who takes up less of the bed!

Love,

[Judy Harder]

February 25, 2011   

Learning to be Content

Not that I speak from want, for I have learned to be content in whatever circumstances I am.
Philippians 4:11

I love the true story of Fanny Crosby, the beloved hymn writer of yesteryear. When Fanny was a baby, she developed inflammation in her eyes. A quack doctor prescribed the wrong treatment, and as a result, young Fanny went blind.

Fanny easily could have become a bitter person. She easily could have viewed life through the jaded lens of resentment and anger over what had happened to her. She could have been a constant whiner over the injustice done to her. But she refused to fall into that trap. Regardless of her circumstances, she chose to be thankful and content. In fact, she penned these words:

"Oh what a happy soul I am,
Although I cannot see;
I am resolved that in this world
Contented I will be.
How many blessings I enjoy,
That other people don't;
To weep and sigh because I'm blind,
I cannot, and I won't."

THE 33 PERCENT RULE

Sue Enquist, the legendary softball coach of the UCLA Bruins' (1989 - 2006), was known for the 33 Percent Rule. In her way of thinking, you can divide people into three categories. The bottom 33 percent of people always whine and complain. These are the folks that suck the fun out of anything and everything. The middle 33 percent have an attitude that fluctuates from good to bad depending on circumstances. They are good to be around provided all is going well for them. The top 33 percent choose a positive attitude regardless of the circumstances. No matter what they are facing, they are joyful, hopeful, and thankful.

Fanny Crosby was in the top 33 percent. What about you?

AWARE AND FIGHTING FOR IT

It is easy for me to slip into the middle category of the 33 Percent Rule. If I am not sensitive to what is coming out of my mouth, I can let negative circumstances make me negative. But, if I stop and take the time to see that God is over every circumstance, I can chose to thank Him for the adversity and look to see what He is going to teach me through it all.

Every trial is a test. Every hardship is an opportunity to thank God, trust God and grow stronger in your faith.

Will you take inventory of your life today? Are you living with contentment, regardless of the circumstances? Are you choosing to rejoice and praise God even in the face of adversity? If not, you can start today.

PRAYER

Dear God, please forgive me for whining and griping about my circumstances: my bad job, my terrible boss, my back-stabbing co-worker, my evaporating finances, my bad health, my troubled marriage, my _____________________. Lord, I know that You are over every circumstance and situation. You have allowed this trial to come to me to help me grow and shine for You. I choose to face my difficulties with a strong and renewed faith, knowing that You will see me through as I trust You. Thank You, Lord. Regardless of what happens today, I choose by faith to make it a great day! Amen.


Love,


Jeff Schreve
Pastor